The typical owner-occupied home in Ithaca is worth about $342,700, 19% below the New York median of $423,800 and 3% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $8,897 a year in property taxes, about 2.60% of their home's value, higher than the New York rate of 1.55%. The median household earns $48,784 a year, so the median home costs 7.0 times the median income (4.9 times for New York). 30% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 55% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Ithaca at a glance
| Ithaca | New York | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $342,700 | $423,800 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $8,897 | $6,582 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 2.60% | 1.55% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $48,784 | $85,974 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 30% | 54% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 55% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,368 | $2,555 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.2% | 22.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,447 | $1,621 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 41.3% | 31.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1956 | 1959 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 12.5% | 10.0% | 10.1% |
| Population | 32,814 | 19,852,366 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Ithaca
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Ithaca home of $342,700 with 20% down costs about $2,730 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,300, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $116,983 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 67% of the median Ithaca household income of $48,784; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $143,000.
The median rent here is $1,447 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,283 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $68,540 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $274,160 |
| Principal and interest | $1,844 |
| Property taxes (2.60% a year) | $743 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $143 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,730 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $11,994 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $336,493 |
| Principal and interest | $2,264 |
| Property taxes (2.60% a year) | $743 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $143 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $152 |
| Total per month | $3,300 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Ithaca
What is the median home value in Ithaca?
About $342,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Ithaca?
Homeowners pay a median $8,897 a year, which is about 2.60% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Ithaca?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,730 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $116,983 a year.
More about Ithaca
- Mortgage Refinance in Ithaca
- Debt Relief in Ithaca
- Home Equity Loans in Ithaca
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data